Crossing the border with Blue Jays beat reporter Jordan Bastian.

Cito clarifies comments; Game 112 lineups

TORONTO — Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston wanted to clarify some comments he made Tuesday afternoon during a MLB Network SIRUIS XM radio interview with Jim Bowden. Gaston is not considering returning as Toronto’s manager after this season.

According to Bowden’s Twitter page, Gaston said, “If I was pushed to stay another year I would … but if I’m asked to step aside I will.”

Gaston explained his comment to reporters prior to Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox at Rogers Centre.

“You should’ve heard what he said,” Gaston said of the interview. “He said, ‘It’s unacceptable for you to leave.’ So I said to him, ‘You should be my agent,’ and he said, ‘Ten percent,’ and he’ll do it. So I said to him, ‘No. You know what? I’m going to leave.’ I said, ‘If they ask me to come back, I might think about it, but I’m probably still going to leave.’ That’s the way that went.”

Gaston plans on shifting into an advisory role with the Blue Jays following this season and general manager Alex Anthopoulos is currently in the midst of conducting a search for a new manager. Asked if the issue of returning or retiring was completely settled in his mind, Gaston said it was.

“In my mind? Yeah, it’s pretty final for me that I’m going to leave,” Gaston said. “I’ve said it a few times that I think it’s best for the ballclub. I think they’ll get somebody in here that’s going to be here for a few years. As I told him, if I was a little bit younger, and I wanted to be around for two or three more years, which I think that would be OK, then I’d probably be kicking and screaming trying to stay here.

“But, that’s not the case for me. If I do come back, it would only be for one year, so what is that going to do for anybody unless it gives them time to find who they want. But, Alex, I’m pretty sure he’s on the job looking right now. It’s OK. I’m ready to go. No problem”

NOTES: SS Yunel Escobar was a late scratch with a sore right knee. … CF Vernon Wells is sidelined with a dislocated right big toe. Wells and Gaston were both optimistic that the center fielder would return to the lineup on Wednesday. Wells said the toe will be taped and noted that there is more discomfort when running than when hitting. … LHP Brett Cecil cut his left knee this week and has been pushed back until Saturday for his next start. Cecil required three stitches, according to Gaston. … LHP Brad Mills will start on Thursday and then will be sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas. The Jays will promote LHP Marc Rzepczynski from Vegas to start on Friday. … RHP Brandon Morrow is being given some extra rest after Sunday’s 137-pitch gem. Morrow’s next start will be on Aug. 17. … All of this means the upcoming rotation will be Romero (today), followed by Shaun Marcum, Mills, Rzepcznynski, Cecil, Romero, Marcum and Morrow.

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UPDATE: Here is the transcript from Gaston’s interview with Bowden earlier today on the MLB Newtork Radio channel on SIRIUS XM:

Bowden: “Cito, you said before the season started that you would step aside after the season, maybe stay in an advisory role, but your club is seven games over .500. This is a team that’s up and coming, it’s developing, it’s only going to get better. I think it’s unacceptable that you step aside. Will you reconsider your position?”

Gaston: (laughs) “I like that. You should be my agent.”

Bowden: “Well for 10 percent I’m willing to take it on. Call me after the show.” (laughs)

Gaston: “Well, you know what, if I was a little bit younger I would love to stay here ’cause I can see them moving forward nd I want to be a part of it and I will be a part of it, but probably as an advisor. If I was pushed to stay here another year that’s fine, but I think they really need to get somebody in here that’s going to be around here two or three, maybe three more years and I don’t intend to stay that long one way or the other. So you know what, it’s no problem for me to step aside and as I said before if I’m asked to stay another year I might think about it, but I doubt it. I’m just going to be on the outside looking in and trying to help a little bit while I’m looking in.”

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I guess first point is why would anyone trust Jim Bowden. Clearly, that ******* Bowden tried to set Cito up, why is that a surprise this is the guy who took graft under the table from Latin American signings and kept Washington in the hinterlands for years.

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